Ryan Finn’s second attempt at sailing the Cape Horn Clipper Route has begun, after damage to the hull cut his first attempt short last January. The trip is being done in a 36ft proa, Jzerro, and will take him from New York, around Cape Horn to finish in San Francisco.
Finn’s trip, which started on January 18, encountered a number of issues early in the voyage. Autopilot malfunctions, wire corrosion and a ripped headsail have all tested his tenacity, but Finn has maintained his course and is currently sailing well off the coast of Brazil.
Last year, during the second day of his first attempt, a hole appeared in the leeward pod of the boat. While there is no official cause of the puncture, it is believed to have been caused by an impact to the boat that happened after leaving New York City. Finn used epoxy and spare wood panels to temporarily patch it. The return to New York took two days. Another issue from his last trip, carrying clean water, was resolved with an onboard watermaker, purchased with the help of a GoFundMe campaign. The watermaker saves 650lb previously used to store clean water.
To hear more about his first attempt at the route, listen to the Point of Sail podcast here. To follow along, check out the project’s Facebook here.
Photos courtesy of Ryan Finn
February 2022
